Letter and name game apparatus



July 23, 1968 l. M. HILL LETTER AND NAME GAME APPARATUS Filed Aug. 4, 13964 2 Sheets-Sheet l Cm E5 U/X Y f l kA wg-aros IVY M. HILL JZ BY Anno/fr;

July 23, 1968 M. HILL 3,393,914

LETTER AND NAME GAME APPARATUS Filed Aug. 4, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 S S S S ANIMALS FLDNERS COUNTRIES CIT! ES few D D D D mi: NAMES ENTERTAINERS BRAND NAMES STATESMEN 42 42 T T T oRGAmzATloNs gggs TITLES JOKER www1-wz IVY M. HILL United States APatent O 3,393,914 LETTER AND NAME GAME APPARATUS Ivy M. Hill, 285 King George Terrace, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Filed Aug. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 387,456 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-135) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Game board apparatus including a board with squares laid out thereon in columns and having category playing pieces t0 be placed on marked category areas associated with Vsaid columns, each piece bearing the name of a category, some of said areas being associated with a single `column and others associated with a plurality of columns, and a plurality of initial playing pieces each containing an alphabetical letter and an evaluation number thereon, said initial piece-s being adapted to be selectively placed 0n squares in columns associated with selected category playing pieces on categ-ery areas.

This invention relates to letter land name game board apparatus.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a game apparatus which may be used and enjoyed by persons of all ages for both educational and amusement purposes.

Another object is the provision of game board apparatus which will help the players to develop their thinking and reasoning powers, and t-o increase their knowledge along desirable lines.

This game can be played and enjoyed by one 0r more players, since each person is playing against himself, that is, against his own knowledge and thinking power, ias well as against other players. The game lends itself to be played in a comparatively simple form, and in more complex or ditlicult forms. It includes a game board having a plurality of marked category :areas located side by side thereon, 'and at least one column of squares substantially aligned with each area. A plurality of category playing pieces each containing at least one name are used, as well as a plurality of initial playing pieces each containing a letter and an evaluation number. If desired, one or more `blank playing pieces and/ or one 0r more generic playing pieces each with :an evaluation numberthereon may also be provided.

Game apparatus according to the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a reduced plan view of the game board,

FIGURE 2 illustrates some of a plurality of initial playing pieces,

FIGURE 3 illustrates examples of category playing pieces,

FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate other for-ms of category playing pieces,

FIGURE 6 shows two blank playing pieces, and

FIGURE 7 illustrates a generic playing piece.

Referring to the drawings, 10 is a game board formed 0f suitable material, such as cardboard, and having a playing area 11 located centrally thereof and surrounded by a border 12 along the edges of the board. The illustrated board 10 is set up for three variations of this game, .-but it is to be understood that it may be set up for one variation or any combination of these variations. In this example, a plurality of first category areas 16 are l-ocated side by side in border 12 along one edge of the board. There may be any desired number of these category areas, but in this example there are six areas 16, and these are marked S-1 to S-6 for convenience. The playing area 11 is marked off in a plurality of squares 3,393,914 Patented July 23, 1968 ice 18. :It willl be noted that there is a horizontal column 19 of squares 18 associated Iand aligned with each category area 16 and extending inwardly from said area and across area 11. Y

A second set of category areas 22 is located in border 12 along another side of board 10. In this example, there are three :areas 22 marked D-1, D`-2 and D-3. There are two vertical columns 23 of squares 18 associated and substantially aligned with each category area 22 land extending inwardly of the boar-d from` the latter area.

Board 10 also has a third set of category areas 26 in border 12 along a third side of the board, there being two of these illustrated and marked T-1 and T-Z. There are three horizontal columns 27 of squares 18 associated and substantially aligned with each category area 26 land extending inwardly of `the board from the latter area.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a plurality of initial playing pieces 30, each containing a letter 31` and an evaluation number 32. These playing pieces may be made of cardb-oard, wood, plastic or the like, and there may be any number of them, for example, `6() pieces. These preferably include all of the letters of the alphabet, and, if desired, some may include two letters, such as Q/Z :and U/X. The following is an example of the number of initial pieces that will make up a good game, the lettering of these pieces and the evaluation numbers thereof:

FIGURE 3 illustrates a plurality of category playing pieces 35 that are particularly for use with the singles category areas 16 of the game board. Each category piece 35 includes the name 0f a group of articles, animals, flowers, countries, cities, and the like. A good game is provided if there are 16 of these category playing pieces containing names such as follows:

Animals States Birds Cities Flowers Towns in Home Trees State Lakes Car Makes River-s Occupations Mountains Games and Vegetables Sports Countries Nationalities FIGURE 4 illustrates a plurality of category playing pieces 38 which are intended to be used with the doubles category areas 22. Each playing piece 38 includes names of objects, places, entertainers, brand names, statesmen, or the like that may be in two words. A good game is developed if there are 12 of these doubles category pieces 38, containing the following names:

Characters TV stars Place names Movie stars Brand names Relatives Titles Statesmen Entertainers Sports figures Singers Writers FIGURE 5 illustrates a plurality of category playing Abbreviations Organizations Famous persons Titles Further variety may be incorporated into the game by providing a plurality of blank playing pieces 45, as shown in FIGUR-E 6, and/or one or more generic or joker playing pieces 47. Pieces 45 may have zeros 46 thereon representing no value, while each playing piece 47 may have `an evaluation number 51.

The method of playing the games may be varied in a number of ways, but in each case the basic elements of the games have to used. The games may be played by any number of individuals, or by teams of individuals. The singles game means that single words are used, the doubles game means that double words and letters or initials are used, and the triples game means that triple words and letters or initials are used.

Starting with a singles game, the players in order select six category playing pieces 35 and place them on the six category areas 16. Each player picks up or draws six initial playing pieces without seeing the letters or evaluation numerals thereof. The tirst player tries to play his pieces 30` on squares 18 in the column 19 aligned with each of the six category pieces on the category areas. For example, if the category piece on S-1 has animals on it, the player tries to name an animal, the rst letter of the name of which appears on one of his initial pieces 30. For example, it he has a playing piece with the letter C on it, he could place( it under the animals playing piece and call out cat. It he is not able to place Iall ot his pieces 3G across the board under the six category pieces, he retains the playing pieces not so placed, and these will count against him by the amounts indicated by each one. Each succeeding player attempts to do the same thing, placing his pieces 30 on the squares 18 beside those placed on the board by the rst player. When all the players have had a turn, they then draw six more initial pieces 30, and this is continued until each player has a predetermined number of turns. At the end, each player totals the numbers on the initial pieces he was not able to place on the board durin-g each turn, and the player who has the lowest score wins the game.

The procedure vfor the doubles game is the same as that for the singles game. In this case, however, cate- :gory playing pieces 38 are placed on the category areas 22 which are marked D-l, D-Z and D-3. In this case, the initial pieces 30 are placed in pairs in the columns 23 aligned with each category piece 33. For example, if the category piece has place names on it, the player has to call a place name involving two words beginning with letters for 'which he Ihas initial pieces 30. For example, it he has two pieces 30 with the letter C on them, he could call out Corpus Christi, and lay his two pieces down in the appropriate columns on the board.

The triples game is played in the same manner as the others, excepting that category pieces 42 are placed on the category areas 2'6 which are marked T-1 and T-Z. In this case, the player must play three initial pieces 30 each time, placing said pieces in the appropriate columns 27 aligned with the category piece with which he is working. For example, if the category piece 42 has famous persons on it, he could name 1. B. Brown if he had initial pieces with the letters J. B. B. on them.

The blank pieces 45 may be used, and these are most welcome to a player since he can play them on any desired square. For example, in a singles game he can play a blank piece under the hardest category to till, while in doubles or triples games he can play the blank only with one or two initial pieces respectively. If

a player draws a generic piece 47, he can use it as any desired letter, but it he cannot -get rid of it by playing it on the board, he has a large count, namely 50, against him.

The actual equipment of this game is relatively simple, but a great deal of enjoyment can be had with this game, While the players improve their thinking ability and knowledge on various subjects. The game can be played by a single person since he is playing against himself, or against his ability to think up names and words to tit each situation in which he finds himself. On the other hand, several players can play in competition with each other.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Educational game apparatus comprising, in combination:

(a) a board having a plurality of side edges,

(b) a plurality of unmarked squares on the board formed by intersecting, equally spaced, parallel, vertical and horizontal lines, said squares being arranged by said lines in columns perpendicular to the board side edges,

(c) a plurality of first marked category areas side by side on the board along a first of said side edges, one of said columns of squares being associated with and extending inwardly of the board from each lirst category area,

(d) a plurality of rst category playing pieces each adapted to be placed on a rst category area and containing a category name,

(e) a plurality of second marked category areas side by side on the board and along a second of said side edges, two adjacent of said columns of squares being associated with and extending inwardly of the board from each second category area, and each second category area extending on opposite sides of the line between the two columns of squares associated therewith,

() a plurality of second category playing pieces each adapted to be placed on a second category area and containing a designation of a category with names comprising two words,

(g) a plurality of third marked category areas side by side on the board and along a third of said side edges, three adjacent of said columns of squares being associated with and extending inwardly of the board from each third category area,

(h) a plurality of third category playing pieces each adapted to be placed on a third category area and containing a designation of a category with names comprising three words,

(i) a plurality of initial playing pieces each containing an alphabetical letter and an evaluation number, said initial pieces being adapted to be selectively placed on squares in columns associated with selected category playing pieces on the category areas of the last-mentioned columns.

2. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a plurality of playing pieces having zero evaluation, and a plurality of joker generic playing pieces having an evaluation number thereon, said zero and generic playing pieces being similar to said initial pieces `and being adapted to be selectively placed on squares in the same manner as the initial pieces.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,319,561 10/1919 Brenner 273-135 2,380,106 7/1945 Hilton 273-135 3,116,927 1/1964 Kuhlman 273-135 3,152,806 10/1964 Jackman 273-135 3,226,122 12/1965 Rogers 273-135 X DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner. 

